Jonathan
Wheeler
Jonathan qualified as a solicitor in Liverpool in 1993, having cut his teeth on personal injury claims from day one. He says that this was the best preparation for his new job at one of London's top personal injury firms when he joined Bolt Burdon Kemp in 1998.
Initially specialising in major trauma and occupational health claims, Jonathan has since developed expertise in child abuse and human rights cases which now make up the majority of his practice.
Jonathan became a partner in 2003 and head of the personal injury group in 2005. In 2006 he was named one of the ‘Hot 100’ lawyers of the year by The Lawyer magazine, recognising his campaigning work for survivors of child abuse. Jonathan was elected to the national executive of the influential Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) at their conference in 2008, a post he will hold for 3 years before re-election. He is also the treasurer and a director of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers and a past co-ordinator of APIL’s child abuse special interest group. He is an APIL Fellow and has been a member of the Law Society’s Personal Injury Panel since 1997.
As one of APIL’s recognised trainers he regularly writes articles and presents seminars, most recently on evidence in child abuse claims and acting for children. He has contributed to programmes produced by the Law Channel and Law Network TV and is regularly asked to provide comment on topical issues for the national media; among his claims to fame he lists being interviewed live on Channel 4 News, and being quoted on the front page of The Times.
A former volunteer with North Islington Law Centre, outside work Jonathan is an avid theatre-goer, also enjoying films, good books and all social occasions.
Reported cases include:
Fashade v North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust (2001) 5 CL 203 – the highest award for glutaraldehyde induced asthma for a nurse who was involved in sterilising surgical equipment
X & Y v London Borough of Wandsworth (2006) 1 WLR 2320 (CA); (2008) 2 WLR 311 (HL) – landmark case on limitation time periods for child abuse claims
Pierce v Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council (2009) 1 FLR 1189 (CA) – first case where damages were awarded for a failure to retain a child in care by a local authority
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